American Idol Season 24 is well underway, with judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood setting out to find the nation’s best vocal talent. One young singer that already captivated America was 15-year-old contestant Khloe Grace, who was recently eliminated during the show’s Hollywood Week.
Grace originally gained attention with her initial Idol audition for the show’s judges, which saw her perform a song she wrote called “Forever 13.” Grace penned the song after seeing the story of 13-year-old Aubreigh Wyatt, who died by suicide.
“Something kept telling me to write that song, so I did,” Grace said during her audition. “I’ve never met her. I couldn’t [get the story out of my mind] and It did just relate… I felt that so much in my heart to write this song [and] I went through some of the things Aubreigh went through, and it was really hard. So I was like, if I could write something that could just very small help someone, then it’s totally worth me writing this song.”
Bryan, Richie and Underwood were all visibly moved by her story and performance and put her through with a golden ticket. During Season 24’s Hollywood Week, which took place in Nashville for the first time, Grace performed a rendition of Sugarland’s ballad “Stay,” receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
Ultimately, the 15-year-old Idol hopeful did not advance through to the next round of competition, but she shared a message on social media with her fans expressing her desire to keep going on her musical journey.
“First, I want to thank American Idol and the judges for giving me the opportunity to make it as far as I did,” she said. “I’ve made such great memories and I learned a lot, and I’ve met some of the most amazing people along the way. I was the youngest contestant on the show, and it is really hard to be on a national television show at such a young age. But trust me, this is definitely not the end for me, and I have such amazing and exciting things coming up that I am super excited to share with y’all. Being on American Idol is truly something I have always dreamed of being on, and I’m still so proud and so grateful to have been on this show.”
Grace mentioned that American Idol is “just a stepping stone in my journey” before thanking “everyone that has supported me and been by my side on this amazing and crazy journey that I have been on.” “I am so grateful for all of y’all and I love y’all so much,” she concluded. “Remember, you are always so loved. You are always so wanted, and I love y’all so much.”
She proved her words true with another video sharing a snippet of an unreleased new song, titled “Does She Remind You Of Me,” in which she told fans she was about to listen to a finished version of one of her new songs for the first time.
The emotional ballad finds Grace reflecting on the aftermath of a relationship, singing, “I hope she breaks your heart like you broke mine / I hope you miss me all the time.” Asking fans in her caption if she should release the track, it sounds like she might be doing just that fairly soon.
Stay up-to-date with Khloe Grace by following her on Instagram and TikTok.
